Dear Parish Community,

On this 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, the Word of God presents us with the image of a wedding banquet to which we are all invited. God prepares for us a celebration of love, joy, and communion, and His invitation is not meant for only a few, but for everyone. The Lord constantly comes to meet us and calls us to participate in His Kingdom, to open our hearts to Him, and to discover that true happiness is found in Him.

However, the Gospel reminds us that we can reject this invitation when we become too busy with our own concerns or when we place other things before God. Many times, the Lord calls us through a person, a situation, a word from Scripture, or the needs of our neighbor. The question is: Are we listening to His voice? God’s invitation continues to come to us each day, but it requires a free and generous response.

The parable also speaks to us about the wedding garment, which we can understand as a heart willing to live according to the Gospel. It is not enough simply to receive the invitation; we are called to allow our encounter with Christ to transform the way we think, speak, and act. To put on the wedding garment means to clothe ourselves with love, mercy, humility, forgiveness, and service, bringing into our daily lives the faith that we celebrate in our parish community.

May this Sunday help us renew our response to the Lord’s invitation. May we never take for granted the gift of belonging to His Church and participating in the table of the Eucharist. May God abundantly bless each one of you and your families, and may the Lord grant you a week filled with peace, hope, and joy.

Please receive a fraternal embrace and my blessing in Christ.

Rev. Julio Fernández